University of Virginia Library

VII. Hwon holy chireche is vnder uote.

Hwile wes seynte peter. i-cleped symon.
Þo queþ vre louerd him to. þu schalt hoten ston.
Ich wile myne chireche. sette þe up-on.
Þeo þat heo schulde biwite. nv beoþ hire ivon.
Of alle hire forme freond. nv naueþ heo non.
Þar-fore is hire wurþsype. wel neyh al agon.
Þo her wes symon. and nv is symonye.
Þat muchel del haueþ amerd. of þere clergie.
Bidde we vre louerd crist. þat hire warantye.
For his swete moder luue. seynte Marie.
Soþþe wes seynte peter. pope ine Rome.
Þer is þat heued. and auhte to beon. of þe cristendóme.
Clement. and Gregorie. þat him after come.
Hi hedden teone and seorewe. ofte and ilóme.
For hi heolden cristes men. myd sib and myd some.
And eke holi chireche wiþ-vten þeowedome.
Þo heo stod ful vaste. and seoþþe sume stunde.
Nu me kasteþ hire to. myd markes and myd punde.
Of seolure and of golde. to vellen heo to grunde.
Nis nv non þat wile for hire. þolie deþ ne wunde.
Soþþe seynt thomas þolede deþ. al myd vnrihte.
Þe Archebisscop stephne. for hire gon to fyhte.
And seynt Admund soþþe. ful veyre hire dihte.
For holden hire wurschipe. hi duden al heore myhte.
Nv is holy chireche vuele vnder honde.
Al hire weorreþ þat wuneþ ine londe.
Bispes. and clerekes. knyhtes. and bonde.
Kynges and eorles. to hire habbeþ onde.
And þe seolue pope. þat heo bi-wyte scholde.
Habbe he þe yeftes. of seoluer and of golde.
Markes and pundes. myd rihte oþer myd wronge.
Heo let heom alle i-wurþe. þat beoþ so swyþe stronge.
Away þat heo bi vre daye. so is vnder vote.
Bidde we alle ihesu crist. þat hyre sende bote.
For his swete moder luue. þat is so veyr and swote.
Þat we in þisse lyue. hit i-seon mote.